Mail-box.



R. N. HUTCHENS.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JULY14, 19x4.

Patented Apr. 25,1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON, D. c.

ROSCOE 1\T. HUTCHENS, 0F HARNEY, OREGON.

MAIL-BOX.

Application filed July 14, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Roscon N. HUTCHENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harney, in the county of Harney, State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to mail boxes, and more particularly to the type used in con nection with rural delivery.

An object of the invention is to provide means wherein the presence of mail in the box will be indicated by the operation of inserting mail into the box.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts as herein set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the indicat ing device in inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view looking from the opposite side, showing the operating mechanism for the indicating device. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the device after the mail has been inserted therein and the indicating device operated. Fig. 4 is a transverse section, showing the indicating device held in inoperative position by its controlling mech anism.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters wherein like parts are indicated by similar characters, the device comprises a mail box 1 having a fiat underside 2 having a door 3 hinged to the lower fiat side and adapted to be swung downwardly.

To one side of the box is pivotally supported a lever 4, on one end of which is a flag 5, and on the other end of which is a weight 6. Attached to the lever and extending through an aperture 7 is an arm 8 arranged to engage with a projection 9 of a rack member 10, which rack member is pivoted to the side of the box opposite the side to which the flag is pivoted and within the box.

A wooden bottom 7 is inserted in the box and has a plurality of slots 8' in which the fingers of the rack 10 are located when there is no mail in the box. The end slot 8 has an enlargement 9 in which the arm 8 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

Serial No. 850,918.

" is located so as to be engaged by the projection 9 of the rack member 10.

Extending from the rack member 10 is a projection 11 which extends through an aperture 12 in the side of the box and is engaged by a lever 13 which is pivoted to the side of the box between its ends and engages a projection 14 on the door member 3. When the door in open and swung downwardly, the projection 14 pushes one end of the lever 13 upwardly and consequently the end bearing upon the projection 11 downwardly. This pushes the said projection downwardly and the rack member 10 is thus raised. Inasmuch as the arm 8 is engaged beneath the projection 9 by the above de scribed operation this arm is released and the lever 4 allowed to swing about its pivot by virtue of the action of the weight 6.

When the mail is inserted into the box the end of the lever engaging the projection 14 is swung downwardly by the action of the spring 15 and by reason of the fact that the end of this lever bears upon the said projection 14:, the door is automatically closed. When the rack 10 is lowered it engages the mail in the box and the fingers will not be allowed to go below the face of the wooden bottom 7 so the arm 8 will not be engaged and the signal will be left in vertical position.

From the foregoing it may be seen that I have provided a device wherein the presence of mail will be automatically signaled and furthermore where the door to the said device will be automatically closed.

I do not wish to be limited to the specific construction shown, but only so far as is necessary by the claims.

What is claimed is 1. A mail box comprising a box-like casing, a false bottom mounted therein and having transverse slots, a rack pivotally mounted in the casing and having fingers adapted to normally engage in the slots, one of said fingers having an enlargement, a

normally inoperative signal lever pivotally connected to the casing by an arm, the inner end of said arm being normally engaged with the enlargement, a door for the casing, means operable by the door to swing the fingers of the rack from engagement with the slots and simultaneously disengage the enlargement and arm to permit the signal leverto swing to its operative position, saidfingers being prevented from entering the slots when mail is deposited on the false bottom and bridges one or more of said slots.

.2. A mail box comprising a bOX-TllkBHCELS' ing, a rack pivotally mounted therein, a signal lever having an arm, said arm being pivotally engaged in one side of the casing and having its inner end engaged by the.

rack whereby said lever is held in its inoperative position, a door for the casing, means operable by the door to swing the rack upwardly to disengage said arm to release the slgnal lever, means for swinging the lever to its operative position when said 7 ROSCOE N. HUTCI-IENS. WVitnesses:

ALEX Rooms, 7 ALMA L. LOGGAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. O. 

